Lynn C. Woolsey: “after the administration promised to bring liberation to the people of Iraq, they have, instead, brought insecurity and…”

“after the administration promised to bring liberation to the people of Iraq, they have, instead, brought insecurity and despair. Every day a new report emerges about the horrible living conditions in Iraq. One of the latest stories comes from Missan, a predominantly Shia province south of Baghdad. Human rights groups and media reports show that there is a shortage of safe drinking water, and that very shortage may pose a serious health risk. Eight agencies have found that there is a shortage of chemicals for water purification and that many people have been forced to take water directly from the polluted Tigris River. The provincial capital, Amarah, hasn't been able to treat its water supply since early September because they lack the treatment chemicals. This problem, Mr. Speaker, is further complicated by the large number of internally displaced people arriving each and every day. And according to media reports, thousands of refugees have arrived from the central and northern provinces since February 2006, which puts unmitigated pressure on the already strained water system. And according to a U.N. Refugee Agency report, the available water supply only met 60 percent of the needs 1 year ago. It also stated, ``Rural areas rely on drinking water directly from the marshes, water that is highly saline, untreated and often contaminated.'' Recent studies found that only 5 percent of the houses in the province have running water.”